LA Knight and 5 WWE Superstars Primed for Post-WrestleMania 39 Bump

Not everyone can make the WrestleMania 39 card, but that doesn't mean WWE isn't already positioning those Superstars to make a significant impact after marquee event.

LA Knight is one such name, but who will join the loud-mouthed heel on the list of those competitors to keep an eye on after the company moves into the rest of 2023?

Find out with this deeper dive into the Superstars set for a possible bump after April 1-2.

LA Knight

The charismatic heel with a silver tongue may not be scoring wins at a large clip, but he is getting regular television time, promo opportunities and matches with top-tier talent such as Bray Wyatt, Cody Rhodes and Kofi Kingston.

Knight has built a connection with audiences, as evidenced by the reactions he has received when entering arenas for television and live event shows. He makes the most of his opportunities, and the fact that he regularly appears on TV suggests management recognizes as much.

That recognition is likely to give way to a significant post-WrestleMania bump if it does not begin at The Show of Shows itself.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that a pitch made its way to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to work with Knight at SoFi Stadium. While it's unclear if that was for a match or an in-ring segment, there are few bigger moments than working with the biggest star in the history of the business.

It remains to be seen if that confrontation takes place, but the fact that the pitch was made at all tells fans all they need to know about how WWE sees Knight.

Bronson Reed

Super-heavyweight Bronson Reed may not be on his way to WrestleMania, but he has been protected by his booking enough to suggest there are plans for him in a post-Showcase of the Immortals landscape.

No Superstar involved in the Elimination Chamber match for the United States Championship was more protected than Reed. He did not leave with the title, but he was presented like an unstoppable force as he bowled over the opposition.

When the time came for his elimination, it took finishing maneuvers from every remaining competitor to send him packing. Since then, he has remained dominant, including a one-sided win over Elias on a recent episode of Raw.

Indestructible monster heels with any shred of athleticism always get over and always have a spot in WWE, regardless of who is in charge of the creative team.

With a babyface champion in Cody Rhodes expected to emerge from WrestleMania, a challenger like Reed would go a long way in establishing The American Nightmare as a tough, resilient champion and it would also elevate the big man.

He would need to be legitimized more before then, and a feud with the likes of Johnny Gargano or Seth Rollins would go a long way in accomplishing that.

Chad Gable

It has become apparent over the last three months that Triple H and the current creative regime view Chad Gable as a star.

Steps have already been taken to break up Alpha Academy, with Otis joining Maximum Male Models, and Gable seeing increased one-on-one action over the last month. He battled Cody Rhodes in a great match and defeated former King of the Ring Baron Corbin.

It is not particularly surprising that Triple H would tap Gable for a push. The 2012 Olympian is a talented grappler who has flexed his skills under the guidance of The Game during his time in NXT. With former partner Jason Jordan, he worked against The Revival (AEW's FTR) to help revolutionize tag team wrestling under the WWE umbrella.

Add in what he has accomplished as a character over the last year, and you have a guy who is the closest thing this generation has to Kurt Angle.

If there was no intention to push Gable after WrestleMania, Triple H would not have split up a solid heel tag team like Alpha Academy. After years of start-and-stop pushes and the entire Shorty G debacle, Gable is poised for the run he has been capable of for years.

Piper Nevin

Piper Niven has had somewhat of an uneven run since her Royal Rumble return, but a recent victory over Nikki Cross on television despite having no obvious path to WrestleMania is proof of the creative team's desire to keep her looking strong in front of audiences.

With a babyface guaranteed to leave WrestleMania when Bianca Belair and Asuka battle for the Raw Women's Championship, the red brand will be looking for heel contenders to combat them.

Sure, we have Carmella and Chelsea Green, but Niven is a physical threat to The EST of WWE and The Empress of Tomorrow.

A powerful bruiser of a competitor whose new attitude has done wonders for her, the Scot has the tools to be a force after WrestleMania.

Now, she just needs the opportunity to run at the next level.

Legado del Fantasma

Legado del Fantasma have expanded their television presence over the last two months, thanks to a side feud with The Judgment Day.

Santos Escobar's clear respect for Rey Mysterio has turned his faction babyface, and Zelina Vega's performance against Rhea Ripley in a mixed tag team match earned her cheers from the WWE Universe she had not experienced previously in her two years with the company.

Now, along with Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde, they are set up for a run as a prominent faction on Friday nights. That doesn't necessarily mean a main event stint, but it does point to a more prominent role in meaningful segments.

Escobar is talented enough to carry the faction, Vega can be a threat in the women's division as an underdog, and Del Toro and Wilde might be the most undervalued team in WWE.

If the recent booking is any indication, we will have plenty of opportunity to find out just how high Legado del Fantasma can rise on the blue brand.